Perkins&Will

We're excited to be at the 2024 Healthcare Design Conference & Expo (#HCD) in Indianapolis this week! This premier show brings together industry leaders to explore how smart, responsible design is shaping safer, more efficient, and financially sound health facilities—now and for the future. Our team of health designers and researchers will present the latest trends, best practices, and award-winning projects. Follow along for updates—swipe for a preview!

A healthy planet for healthy people: Last week, we kicked off our first annual Sustainable Cities Summit during NYC Climate Week with our partners TYLin, Introba, and Currie & Brown. The energy in the room was palpable, leaving us inspired and optimistic about our collective path toward a climate-friendly future. Our Boston studio’s Patrick Cunningham, design principal, and Tyler Hinckley, senior regenerative design advisor, led a session on designing high-performance K-12 schools. They shared how a commitment to the environment starts with our civic buildings. Using recent case studies like Stoneham High School and the Snyder Center at Phillips Academy, they showcased how innovative partnerships, design methods, and prototyping strategies are essential for creating zero net energy facilities while significantly reducing operational carbon.  Key takeaways:  • Understand the full carbon picture early.  • Engage a diverse team of thinkers.  • Consider energy systems that go beyond the site.  • Bring a more holistic climate conversation to each project. Sidara #ClimateWeekNYC #SustainableCities #NetZero #ClimateAction 

May love and the spirit of community uplift our colleagues, clients, family, friends, and neighbors as they rebuild their lives after Helene.

A wonderstruck optical experience: Stepping into the Kaleidoscope Garden at Boston’s Lawn on D feels like reliving a childhood memory of chasing fireflies on a warm summer evening. Co-designed by artists and designers from our Boston studio, Sarah Brophy and Katherine Chin, this interactive installation is inspired by the magic of a kaleidoscope. Visitors are invited to wander through a glowing field of illuminated discs before arriving at the central oculus, where reflections of earth, sky, and art merge into a harmonious whole. Through the thoughtful use of materials and design, we’ve created a floating “particle field” that echoes the delicate dance of fireflies. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/esY6qrVU   📸: Faith Nguyen, Mel Taing ✏️: Massachusetts Convention Center Authority

Clinic design that reflects the community: The Max Robinson Center, a recent addition to Whitman-Walker, is transforming health care by delivering an affirming and supportive environment for Southeast D.C.—and it’s now featured in Healthcare Design. In our third collaboration with Whitman-Walker, we focused on a purpose-driven design aligned with their mission: to ensure every person is seen, treated with dignity, and given equal access to health and well-being. We're proud to help create a space that fosters belonging and breaks down barriers to care for underserved populations. Read more about the project here: https://lnkd.in/ePutkvWB

Congratulations to Gautam Sundaram, principal and leader of our Boston studio’s urban design practice, on receiving this year’s Norman B. Leventhal Award in Transportation from A Better City ! This award honors leaders and innovators who have made a significant impact on the city’s built environment. Gautam’s design philosophy is to bring clarity to complex issues and focus on problem-solving for the greater good. “Our practice touches and shapes the environment around us, and it is our responsibility to plan for all life. Our role is to bring together diverse viewpoints to help us uncover ways to address pressing cultural, environmental, and societal challenges. Our integrated approach leads to very surprising, but also intentional outcomes that are grounded in curiosity, research, and rigor to elevate our impact,” he says.

Located on the banks of the Grand Canal, a UNESCO World Heritage site, the Beijing Performing Arts Centre includes three world-class venues—an opera house, a theater, and a concert hall—as well as a multipurpose hall and an outdoor stage. Designed by our Shanghai studio, part of SHL - Schmidt Hammer Lassen, this project marks a cultural renaissance for Tongzhou, a district that once served as a bustling stop for boats bringing goods into Beijing. The design beautifully reimagines the area’s heritage: the roof profiles pay tribute to the traditional storehouses that once lined the canal, while the building’s pleated, fan-like exterior resonates with the iconic sails of historic transport vessels. Thank you, Dezeen, for the feature. Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/ecjtF25N 

Most projects begin with listening. In designing a new campus master plan for The University of Kansas, we progressed through a deep engagement with the school and its students. This process involved hundreds of one-on-one and group interviews; participatory workshops, design charettes, and town halls; as well as online and map-based surveys. Synthesizing this information brought us to a long-term vision for transforming KU through rightsizing—or aligning the university’s footprint to its current and future needs. The master plan establishes three frameworks—one looking at nature, one at community, and one at the built environment—that will guide development for decades to come.  In this installment of #TheFold, we invite you to follow along on our journey of client engagement and how we came up with a plan for KU. Learn more about the project on Instagram (@perkinswill) and our website: https://lnkd.in/e8pV8t7R 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 '𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝗼𝗹𝗱’?: A periodical social media series documenting the processes behind our award-winning designs. Each post presents a focused look at the steps our teams take when thinking through design problems on behalf of our clients, going beyond finished photography to reveal the research, sketches, diagrams, models, mockups, and designer perspectives that go into translating ideas into realities. Whether it’s articulating a facade to complement its urban context or peeling back the layers of history to reveal the cultural capital of an existing building, The Fold shows you our projects like you’ve never seen them before.

Pushing #brainhealth to the forefront of the global agenda: We were honored to take part in the Science Summit at the 79th United Nations General Assembly in New York City, where we explored the neuropsychological impact of the built environment on brain health and resilience. During #BrainDays, we highlighted two research-driven projects—The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth Houston) and the Gardner Neuroscience Institute at the University of Cincinnati—demonstrating how innovative design can support human behavior, cognitive function, and emotional well-being. As we embrace the opportunities presented by the evolving economic landscape, nurturing brain health through the built environment is key to achieving sustainable and inclusive progress. Our physical environments aren’t just backdrops for our lives; they play a crucial role in cultivating “brain capital”—the cognitive and emotional resources necessary for a thriving society. It’s through global scientific collaboration that we can advance this mission and achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). A heartfelt thank you to all the experts for an inspiring and insightful discussion! #UNGA79 #SummitOfTheFuture #Neuroscience #BuiltEnvironment Healthy brains, healthy economy: Environments that nurture brain health contribute to cognitive resilience and drive long-term economic growth. Building brain capital: Designing spaces that support cognitive and emotional resources is essential for innovation and economic success. Neuroarchitecture in practice: Incorporating natural light, biophilic elements, and soundproofing enhances cognitive performance and emotional well-being. Regenerative design principles: Prioritizing sustainable materials, clean air, and a connection to nature promotes resilience and health in built environments. Inclusive design: Creating adaptable, sensory-friendly spaces allows neurodiverse populations to fully participate and contribute to society. Fostering innovation: Flexible, collaborative workspaces enhance creativity, adaptability, and productivity, fueling economic growth.

Join us for a day of presentations and panels on New York City’s path to a net-zero, sustainable, and climate-friendly future! We're excited to host our first annual Sustainable Cities Summit during NYC Climate Week alongside our partners TYLin, Introba, and Currie & Brown. From our Boston studio, Patrick Cunningham, design principal, and Tyler Hinckley, senior regenerative design advisor, will lead a session on designing high-performance K-12 schools. They’ll explore recent case studies, partnerships, design methods, and prototyping strategies needed to create zero net energy facilities and drive down operational carbon. Swipe for session details or visit https://lnkd.in/emZc5ScA Sidara, Climate Group #ClimateWeekNYC #UNGA79